Roof construction.



J. A. WALKER.

ROOF CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1914.

J5 Fl J LJ 1 o of o: 7 L) a? D -i) inventor Wit es s j I Attorney;

JAMES A. WALKER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ROOF CONSTRUCTION.

menace.

Application filed April 15, 1914.

To (/ZZ whom it 77b/Zfl/ concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. WALKER. a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Roof Construction, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to roof constructions, and aims to provide a novel and improved joint for connection with the adjacent or meeting ends of the roof sections, such as of a portable house or cottage.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a peculiar joint for roof sections, which will enable the roof sections to contract and expand longitudinally, as well as laterally. to avoid a buckling or distorting of the roof boards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for draining off any water that may seep or leak between the ends of the roof sections.

It is also within the scope of the present invention. to provide a device of this character, which will be comparatively simple, compact, substantial, and inexpensive in construction, as well as being convenient, serviceable and efficient in its use.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a sectional view taken through the joint, parts being broken away, and the section being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fragmcntal portion of the roof illustrating the joint between two of the roof sections, portions being broken away. Fig. 3 is a bottomwiew of the improved structure. Fig. l 1s an eaves View of the improved structure.

The roof, as illustrated, comprises sections 1, the meeting end portions of which have only been illustrated, inasmuch as the present invention relates more particularly to the joint between the ends of the roof sections. Each roof section 1 embodies a series Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1215.

Serial No. 832,045.

of. overlapping longitudinal roof boards 2, which are secured upon transverse cleats 3. Any number of these cleats 3 may be provided for each roof section. the end cleats 3 being spaced slightly from the adjacent ends of the roof boards 2, as seen in Fig. 4, whereby the ends of the roof boards will pro ect or protrude beyond the cleats. Each of the roof boards 2 are secured upon corresponding cleats 3 by means of a single nail or securing element 4, which will enable the roof boards to expand and contract transversely, without buckling or warping, and which will enable the roof sections to expand and contract transversely without restraint. Each of the roof sections 1 further embodies a sheet of water proof mate rial 5 of any suitable character secured upon the cleats 3 under the roof boards 2, whereby a double assurance against leakage is provided. The roof structure is also a serviceable one, the water proof sheets 5 being protected by the roof boards 2, and the roof boards and water proofing sheets enabling theroof to resist the penetration of heat to a better extent, as well as excluding the elements in a most effective manner.

The roof structure further includes a rafter 6 upon which the protruding ends of the roof boards 2 of the roof sections are disposed, the end cleats 3 being disposed at the sides of the rafter 6. The rafter 6 may be mounted in place in the usual, or any other convenient manner. As will be obvious, the rafter 6 underlies the meeting or adjacent ends of the roof boards 2, in order that the roof sections may expand and contract longitudinally upon the rafter 6, under atmospheric changes.

The lower edges of the roof sections 1 are preferably connected by means of an eaves strip or bar 7 which extends under the lowermost roof boards 2. The strip or bar 7 is provided with mortises 7 receiving the projecting tenons 3 of the lower ends of the cleats 3. whereby the lower ends of the cleats 3 and the eaves strip or bar 7 may be secured together. The lower end of the rafter 6 is provided with a tenon or projection 6 underlying the eaves board or bar 7, and a bolt or other securing member 8 is engaged through the tenon or projection 6 of the rafter, and the eaves board 7. The bolt 8 also preferably engages between the adjacent ends of the lowermost roof boards 2. a

A salient or cardinal feature of the. present invention resides in theprovision of a groove or channel 9 formed in the upper edge of the rafter 6 below the meeting ends of the roof boards 2, and serving to catch any moisture-or water which may tween the ends of the roof boards. The ends of the waterproof sheets 5, as designated by the, numeral 10, project over or into the grooveor channel 9 of the rafter, and may be'overlap'ped, if desired. The end portions 10 of the sheets5, will, when subject to the heat of the sun, or other c0nditions,drop into the groove or channel 9*, to form a lining therefor, or toprovide a water channel of themselves for conducting the -water downwardly which may leak through'the joint between the'roof boards.

To carry off the moisture or waterfroin the lower portion of the grooveor channel 9, the rafter 6 isiprovided with a drain outlet or bore 11 extending froin 'the lower por-' tion of the groove or channel- 9'tothelow'er edge-of the=rafte1i Another important feature of the present invention resides the provision of means for connecting the adjacent cleats3'o'f the roof sections 1. Tothis'"end,-there'are pro= vided a plurality'of' Uesh'apedyo'kes 12, bent frombar's or strips of metalg and straddling thetrafter 6' from below,rthe"ends of the yokes'l2 being bent'angularly, as at 13, and secured to thebottcms of thec'leats 3. The yokes 1:2 will yieldably connect the" end cleats 3 of theroof' sections, and will tend to hold theends of the roof sections together, although the yokes'williperm'it the roof sectionsto expand and contract lo'ngitudina'lly sufficiently under the' v'ari ons *a'tmospheric' changes. v

The ends of the roof boards '2 are clamped tightly upon the rafter 6',=by means of wedges or keys 14: driven between thelower edge" of theirafter6 and the lower portions of the yokes 12, thus tending to draw the yokes- 12 downwardly, to hold the roofxboards tightly upon the rafter. I

I'he present structure'is'*adaptedparticw' l'arly for use on portable houses orcottages, the several parts being readily assembled and separated, as will be" obviousfrom the foregoing takenin connection with the drawing, without further comment" The roof sections m'ay expand in either direc-L tion, without restrictionbeyond' ad'esired amount.

Should any moisture see or leak between leak be the ends of the roof boards 2, the moisture will be conducted downwardly along\the upper edge of the rafter 6, either by the edges 10 of the water proof sheets 5, or by the channel or groove 9, the water on reaching the lower end of the channel 9 being drained outwardly at the eaves through the passage or outlet 11. This is of particular advantage when the gap between the roof sections has been increased when the roof is very dry, so that a sudden rain shower would permit a small amount of moisture or rain to pass between the roof boards, before'the roof boards have expanded or swelled tightly together.

The present construction may not only be employed upon a roof, but may be utilized in other capacities, such as for a siding structure, the rafter 6 being taken to represent a stud, and the parts 2, the clap boards.

As illustrated in Figs?) and l, the eaves board 7 is preferably divided adjacent one of the tenons 3 ,-to. enable the roof sections 1 to separate and come together at their meeting ends.

- From the foregoing, the advantages and possibilities of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further description being necessary, it being noted that the objects aimed have been carried out satisfactorily by the proivision of the structure herein disclosed. Y Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: f

i In a roof constructioma rafter having a channel in its upper edge and 'having an outlet extending from the lower end portion of the'channel to the lower edg'e'of the rafter,i"roofsections including cleats at the sides of the rafter and longitudinal roof boards secured upon the cleats, the ends of the roof boards projectingbeyond the cleats and resting upon the rafter, an eaves board extending below the lower roof boards, the eaves board having mortises,the lower ends of the cleats having tenons engaging the mortises, and" ineans'for securing the lower endof the rafter and'eaves board together, the eaves board being divided 5 adj acent one of the said tenons.

In testimon'y' -that *I'claim the foregoing as my own, I'have 'hereto affixed-my signa'-. ture inthe presenceoftwo witnesses.

JAMES A. YVALKER. Witnesses:

A. D. AVERILL, H. W. BRYANTLW Copies of this patent maybeobtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

